Delegations – Revolución Alimentariahttps://revolucionalimentaria.org
Food Sovereignty in the Americas and beyond!Thu, 05 Sep 2019 19:01:48 +0000en
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1 http://wordpress.com/https://s0.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngDelegations – Revolución Alimentariahttps://revolucionalimentaria.org
International Delegation on the Ground in Venezuela (+Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle)https://revolucionalimentaria.org/2019/09/05/international-delegation-on-the-ground-in-venezuela-alberto-lovera-bolivarian-circle/
https://revolucionalimentaria.org/2019/09/05/international-delegation-on-the-ground-in-venezuela-alberto-lovera-bolivarian-circle/#respondThu, 05 Sep 2019 19:01:22 +0000http://revolucionalimentaria.org/?p=2495Continue reading →]]>Caracas, 30/Aug/2019 (Orinoco Tribune).- Last Thursday the Food Sovereignty Delegation that traveled to Venezuela with visitors from the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States, returned home after almost 2 weeks of experiencing on the ground the fight Venezuelans are mounting to defeat the US sanctions and blockade.

Orinoco Tribune had the chance to meet with them and hear first hand their impressions on the delegation, organized by Williams Camacaro from the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle in New York, but also on Venezuela and the spirit of the Venezuelan people.

The delegation brought certified seeds to help the organized Venezuelans farming to defeat the blockade and feed Venezuelans, and delivered the seeds in Trujillo and Yaracuy State to farmers. The members of the delegation are:

We documented the impression of two members of the delegation, Wendy Emmet from the UK Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and Stephen Bartlett from the US Food Sovereignty Alliance that awarded a Prize to the grassroot food organization from Venezuela, Plan Pueblo a Pueblo. We apologize for the background noise.

Orinoco Tribune, committed to breaking the media blockade on Venezuela, has decided to increase its multimedia content to that end and soon, you will be enjoying more multimedia interviews directly from Caracas.

What’s going on right now in Venezuela? Come see for yourself how Venezuelans are coping with US economic sanctions designed to cause a social implosion. Sensationalized reports of Venezuelans eating zoo animals and rotten garbage present a distorted picture of what is happening in Venezuela. The media also omits serious analysis of the role of the food distribution program known as CLAPs run through a government-community partnership reaching millions of Venezuelans. There is no doubt, however, as indicated in a recent report by CEPR, that the US-imposed sanctions are indeed causing collective hardship and even death.

The Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of New York, in partnership with Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville (SAL), a US Food Sovereignty Alliance member, invites historians, artists, videographers, writers, political analysts, health professionals, agricultural production experts and other activists to join a delegation to Caracas, Venezuela this coming August. Witness: communities organizing themselves in the face of manufactured food shortages to grow and distribute their own food;
participatory democracy in action through community councils, ‘comunas’ and other forms of citizen organization; community-run art, media, education, health and nutrition efforts; alternative markets and fairs featuring homemade products and agroecologically produced foods; parks, natural areas, historic sites, and other reclaimed public spaces.

Come bear witness to the effects of the economic warfareandthe sanctions against the Venezuelan people imposed by Donald Trump’s administration as well as the inspiring resistance to these, as Venezuelans push for food sovereignty in response to crisis. Come see the real “threat” posed by Venezuela – as living proof that another world indeed is possible. As the Venezuelan people assert, “Venezuela is not a threat – we are hope!”

Dates: August 19-28, 2019

Itinerary: Start and end in Caracas; visits to the states of Miranda and Aragua.

For more information: email cbalbertolovera@gmail.com or estebanbartlett@gmail.com or call (+1) 502 415 1080

Why should we go to Venezuela?

“I have now gone twice to Venezuela on group trips led by William Camacaro, first in 2012 when Hugo Chavez was still alive, and from April 26th to May 5th this year. As a Venezuelan, William knows the lay of the land, where to go and is well known and welcomed wherever he took us.

This last trip dispelled for me any of the widespread notions spread here 24/7 by the mainstream U.S. corporate media that Maduro and the Bolivarian revolution have lost popular support and that Venezuela is a country of conflict and chaos on the verge of a civil war. No doubt the blackouts, sanctions, and failed coups have taken their toll but they have all failed in driving the population into blaming the Maduro government for what is seen by most as the Trump- Bolton-Pompeo dirty work. The Venezuelan people are far from a demoralized population; rather they’ve been mobilized to resist !

Has Venezuela become a dictatorship ? Not with the 2-3 major newspapers I bought every day that were anti-Maduro ( as were the anti-Chavez ones I bought on my 2012 trip), nor with rallies called by the U.S. backed coupsters openly inciting violence and calling for the overthrow of the government .

We were there on April 30th, the day of the failed coup, and the next days’ Mayday rally which drew 400,000 people, compared to the opposition’s rally of 4,000. And we saw some of the reasons why the majority of the people reject the blatant U.S. attacks to overthrow the government: the 2.6 million new housing units built, the food programs like CLAP which the U.S. is trying to destroy, health care, and other projects designed to serve the needs of the people.
Our trip also brought home how the U.S. sanctions are a form of terrorism explicitly aimed at escalating the suffering of the Venezuelan people, 40,000 of which have died in the last year due to the U.S. blockade on medical and other necessary life supporting supplies.
But don’t take my word for it–go to Venezuela, and see for yourself what’s going on on the ground, and judge for yourself. ”

Keith Brooks: long time anti-war and labor/community activist, retired NYC high school teacher

If you are able to travel to Venezuela, go. There is really no substitute for seeing Venezuela up close. I have been involved in solidarity efforts with Venezuela since the first years of the Bolivarian revolution led by Hugo Chavez. The attempts by the US to overthrow the pro-people elected government of Chavez and now Maduro requires us all to do whatever we can to defeat the imperialist Monroe Doctrine that underlies US policy today.

I travelled to Venezuela with a group from the US and Canada at the end of April. We were in Caracas when the US engineered coup attempt utterly failed. The contrast between what the international mainstream media was reporting – that a coup had taken place – and the facts as we saw them unfold was a contrast in black and white. It was so important that we were in Venezuela to issue a statement that denounced the Trump administration for conspiring to execute the plot. Our presence was felt throughout the country as news media carried our message that day.

The following day, May Day, when the opposition promised the “mother of all demonstrations” it was heartening to see the streets of Caracas filled with supporters of the Maduro government – some estimates were that 400,000 marched in what was a victory celebration over “yankee imperialism” – while the opposition had one of its lowest turnouts ever.

“Only the people of the US can stop this,” said Venezuelan philosopher and author Carlos Lazo to our group days before the April coup attempt. “It is so important that you come to Venezuela to see for yourselves. The people of the world are asking the people of the US to oppose the illegal sanctions and intervention by your government.”

I agree. To most effectively help to build a movement in the US against foreign intervention, you really should go to Venezuela. See for yourself the accomplishments achieved so far, the resilience of the people, and the unlimited potential if allowed to breathe.

Pat Fry

NYC

July 1, 2019

I just returned from Venezuela (my first visit), last week of April, first week of May. It was obvious to all in our group the opposition had no support for any kind of mass action of any sort. We saw many major projects built since 1999 in support of the nation’s poor masses: 2.6 million housing units, health care centres, cable cars to serve the poor living on the hillsides, sewer, water and electricity piped into those same communities. We saw self government in action, meeting to solve community needs and problems. If you are not a millionaire in Venezuela you’d have to be out of your mind to support the opposition.

The main observation I took home from this tour was Venezuela has embarked on a revolutionary program very similar to that of Cuba’s.

Also obvious to me Canada, and other members of the so-called Lima Group, do not want to see any country successfully using the national wealth to ensure all the population has a decent quality of life and equal opportunities for personal development.

Not very comforting knowing Canada is a part of this as we head into a federal election season where the 2, maybe, all 3 leading parties have the same foreign policy goals, regardless of the campaign rhetoric we are going to hear.

Dave Thomas, Chair CCFA Niagara

My last minute decision to visit Venezuela with the Bolivarian Circle of NY from April 26 to May 5, 2019 – to see for myself what is going on there – was one of the best decisions I have made. Not only did I find the humanity, ingenuity and solidarity of people everywhere we went to be inspirational; but it was incredibly moving to find that we were so warmly welcomed despite the US engineered coup attempt that took place on April 30 while we were there. There is no other way to really uncover the massive lies propagated by our media except by seeing it for yourself. And as so many Venezuelans requested, there is no better way to fight the US economic, military and media war machine than to come home and spread the truth.

Visiting Venezuela with the Bolivarian Circle of New York “Alberto Lovera” delegation was a great experience. I was able to enter into dialog with the process underway at cooperatives and communal councils and see for myself the enthusiasm of the Chavista base for participatory democracy, food security and protecting the social gains of the revolution while moving forward.

Frederick B. Mills

Professor of Philosophy

Bowie State University

The delegation gave me a fabulous window into one of the most exciting social experiments of our time, the Bolivarian revolution and the public policies committed to social Justice that it informs. It also wetted my appetite for more. I will soon be incorporating some of what I learned into my seminars, and I hope to be able to bring a contingent of students in the near future.

Claudia Chaufan

Associate Professor University of California San Francisco

“The Food Sovereignty delegation to Venezuela was interesting, informative and a lot of fun. We saw collective farms, factories, feeding centers and spent time with groups of people struggling for land reform and human dignity. We had lots of opportunities to see how people work together and how agriculture is changing in Venezuela. I loved the people we traveled with and created strong bonds with many of them. It’s the kind of trip that makes you want to return in a few years to see how much progress is being made. It further inspired me to work in the food democracy movement in the US and figure out ways to stay in solidarity with our Venezuelan sisters and brothers.”

“Traveling with William and Christina gave me an insider perspective that I couldn’t have gotten otherwise. I highly recommend taking a trip on one of these delegations whether you are highly interested in food politics and socialism, or are new to the subject.”

“I traveled to both Venezuela and Bolivia with William Camacaro and Christina Schiavoni as the leaders of the trip. I can’t say enough about the quality of these trips and their leadership. I was astounded at the range of activities each trip provided: food centers for the elderly, African communities, women’s collectives, revolutionary centers, fishing industry in Venezuela, agricultural initiatives such as the production of quinoa in Bolivia, meetings with government officials, wonderful community cultural events (sometimes in our honor!), and more. Additionally, both William and Christina were very attentive to the people on the trips, addressed personal crises that arose, and helped in any way possible. There was never a sense that you were simply on your own in a foreign country, and had to fend for yourself. They were always available for questions, suggestions, and concrete help. IN SO DOING THE TRIP LEADERS CREATED A FAMILY-LIKE FEELING AMONG THE GROUP MEMBERS. I have been traveling on political/educational trips for decades, and can only say; the Bolivarian Circle’s trips are the bomb!”

“The food sovereignty tours to Venezuela are an incredible eye opener. You can read about aspects of the country’s shift to a fairer food system but to see it first hand – and meet the people that are making the change happen – is totally inspiring.”

Come to Bolivia to witness one of the most important electoral processes in the region at this critical moment for the continent.

Bolivia is the first country in the hemisphere governed by a progressive indigenous. Learn about indigenous struggles for sovereignty over food, land, and water. Meet with farmers, community leaders, government leaders, and others. Experience the rich culture of the Andes and soak in the sights, sounds, people, and politics in this historic moment in Bolivia.

When: October 16-25, 2019

Where: Start in Cochabamba and end in La Paz; visits to Coroico and Coripata (Yungas de La Paz), Cochabamba and Chapare

Cost for Activities: $1100. This will cover all lodging, all ground transportation, at least 2 meals per day, and translation. Additional expenses during the trip will be minimal. **Airfare not included. Possible group rate available for those traveling from NYC.**

Anyone interested should email cbalbertolovera@gmail.com as soon as possible, as space for this trip is very limited. Please allow a day or two for responses.

Visiting Venezuela with the Bolivarian Circle of New York “Alberto Lovera” delegation was a great experience. I was able to enter into dialog with the process underway at cooperatives and communal councils and see for myself the enthusiasm of the Chavista base for participatory democracy, food security and protecting the social gains of the revolution while moving forward.

Frederick B. Mills

Professor of Philosophy

Bowie State University

The delegation gave me a fabulous window into one of the most exciting social experiments of our time, the Bolivarian revolution and the public policies committed to social Justice that it informs. It also wetted my appetite for more. I will soon be incorporating some of what I learned into my seminars, and I hope to be able to bring a contingent of students in the near future.

Claudia Chaufan

Associate Professor University of California San Francisco

“The Food Sovereignty delegation to Venezuela was interesting, informative and a lot of fun. We saw collective farms, factories, feeding centers and spent time with groups of people struggling for land reform and human dignity. We had lots of opportunities to see how people work together and how agriculture is changing in Venezuela. I loved the people we traveled with and created strong bonds with many of them. It’s the kind of trip that makes you want to return in a few years to see how much progress is being made. It further inspired me to work in the food democracy movement in the US and figure out ways to stay in solidarity with our Venezuelan sisters and brothers.”

“Traveling with William and Christina gave me an insider perspective that I couldn’t have gotten otherwise. I highly recommend taking a trip on one of these delegations whether you are highly interested in food politics and socialism, or are new to the subject.”

“I traveled to both Venezuela and Bolivia with William Camacaro and Christina Schiavoni as the leaders of the trip. I can’t say enough about the quality of these trips and their leadership. I was astounded at the range of activities each trip provided: food centers for the elderly, African communities, women’s collectives, revolutionary centers, fishing industry in Venezuela, agricultural initiatives such as the production of quinoa in Bolivia, meetings with government officials, wonderful community cultural events (sometimes in our honor!), and more. Additionally, both William and Christina were very attentive to the people on the trips, addressed personal crises that arose, and helped in any way possible. There was never a sense that you were simply on your own in a foreign country, and had to fend for yourself. They were always available for questions, suggestions, and concrete help. IN SO DOING THE TRIP LEADERS CREATED A FAMILY-LIKE FEELING AMONG THE GROUP MEMBERS. I have been traveling on political/educational trips for decades, and can only say; the Bolivarian Circle’s trips are the bomb!”

“The food sovereignty tours to Venezuela are an incredible eye opener. You can read about aspects of the country’s shift to a fairer food system but to see it first hand – and meet the people that are making the change happen – is totally inspiring.”

What’s going on right now in Venezuela? Come see for yourself by connecting with the grassroots movements at the heart of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution.

The Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of New York, In partnership with Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville (SAL),US Food Sovereignty Alliance invites historians, artists, videographers, writers, political analysts, and other activists who sympathize with the Bolivarian Revolution to join a delegation to Caracas, Venezuela this coming August. Witness:
communities organizing themselves in the face of manufactured food shortages to grow and distribute their own food
participatory democracy in action through community councils, ‘comunas’ and other forms of citizen organization
community-run art, media, education, health and nutrition efforts alternative markets and fairs featuring homemade products and agroecologically produced foods parks, natural areas, historic sites, and other reclaimed public spaces.

Come and see with your own eyes the effects of the economic warfare and the sanctions against the Venezuelan people imposed by Donald Trump’s administration

Come witness the efforts of the popular sectors to regroup and defend the political, economic and social rights guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

Come see the real “threat” posed by Venezuela – as living proof that another world indeed is possible. As the Venezuelan people assert, “Venezuela is not a threat – we are hope!”

When: August-19 to 28 -2019

Tentative itinerary: Start and end in Caracas; visits to the states of Miranda and Aragua.

Cost for activities: $1000. This will cover all lodging, all ground transportation, 2 meals per day, qualified trip leaders, and Spanish-English interpretation. Additional expenses during the trip will be minimal. Airfare not included. Sponsored by the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of New York

What’s going on right now in Venezuela? Come see for yourself by connecting with the grassroots movements at the heart of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution.

The Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of New York invites historians, artists, videographers, writers, political analysts, and other activists who sympathize with the Bolivarian Revolution to join a delegation to Caracas, Venezuela this coming May. Witness: the struggle of the Venezuelan people in the framework of one of the most critical presidential elections for the survival of the Bolivarian revolution and in the midst of an economic warfare and multiple economic sanctions imposed by Donald Trump’ administration. come and see for yourselves the reality of the country learn that there is no humanitarian crisis but an economic warled by the United States and its allies in the region.

Come see by yourself communities organizing themselves in the face of manufactured food shortages to grow and distribute their own food participatory democracy in action through community councils, ‘comunas’ and other forms of citizen organization community-run art, media, education, health and nutrition efforts alternative markets and fairs featuring homemade products and agroecologically produced foods parks, natural areas, historic sites, and other reclaimed public spaces.

Come see the real “threat” posed by Venezuela – as living proof that another world indeed is possible. As the Venezuelan people assert, “Venezuela is not a threat – we are hope!”

When: May 16-24, 2018

Tentative itinerary: Start and end in Caracas; visits to the states of Miranda and Aragua.

Cost for activities: $900. This will cover all lodging, all ground transportation, 2 meals per day, qualified trip leaders, and Spanish-English interpretation. Additional expenses during the trip will be minimal. Airfare not included. Sponsored by the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of New York

What’s going on right now in Venezuela? Come see for yourself by connecting with the grassroots movements at the heart of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution.

The Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of New York invites historians, artists, videographers, writers, political analysts, and other activists who sympathize with the Bolivarian Revolution to join a delegation to Caracas, Venezuela this December. Witness:
communities organizing themselves in the face of manufactured food shortages to grow and distribute their own food
participatory democracy in action through community councils, ‘comunas’ and other forms of citizen organization
community-run art, media, education, health and nutrition efforts
alternative markets and fairs featuring homemade products and agroecologically produced foods
parks, natural areas, historic sites, and other reclaimed public spaces.

Come witness the efforts of the popular sectors to regroup and defend the political, economic and social rights guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, even during a period in which a neoliberal agenda will likely dominate the legislative branch of government.

Come see the real “threat” posed by Venezuela – as living proof that another world indeed is possible. As the Venezuelan people assert, “Venezuela is not a threat – we are hope!”

When: December 5-15, 2016

Tentative itinerary: Start and end in Caracas; visits to the states of Miranda and Aragua.

Cost for activities: $1000. This will cover all lodging, all ground transportation, 2 meals per day, qualified trip leaders, and Spanish-English interpretation. Additional expenses during the trip will be minimal. Airfare not included. Sponsored by the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of New York

The Bolivarian Circle of New York “Alberto Lovera,” invites historians, artists, videographers, writers, political analysts, and other activists who sympathize with the Bolivarian revolution, to join the January delegation to Caracas.

The purpose of this delegation is to document the political resistance of the popular sectors to a neoliberal restoration in Venezuela in the aftermath of the parliamentary elections of December 6, 2015.

In those elections the opposition coalition, Roundtable of Democratic Unity (MUD), won a qualified majority. The election results, however, do not reflect a popular endorsement of the MUD agenda. This electoral defeat was caused in large part by an economic and media war waged by US backed oligarchic interests against the Maduro administration, exacerbated by a plunge in oil prices. There was also some voter abstention among a significant part of the Chavista electoral base motivated by dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the related shortages, inflation, and corruption. For this reason there is a great deal of critique and self-critique going on throughout the entire spectrum of Chavismo with a view to correcting errors (rectificación) and relaunching (reimpulso) the Bolivarian project. Come witness and document the efforts of the popular sectors to regroup and defend the political, economic and social rights guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, even during a period in which a neoliberal agenda will likely dominate the legislative branch of government.

The Plurinational State of Bolivia is the first country in the hemisphere governed by a progressive indigenous leader. Learn about indigenous struggles for sovereignty over food, land, and water. Gain an understanding of the spiritual and philosophical foundations of Pachamama. And discover the traditional ecological knowledge of the country’s indigenous peoples. Meet with farmers, community leaders, government officials, and others. Experience the rich culture of the Andes and soak in the sights, sounds, people, and politics at this historic moment in Bolivia.

Cost for Activities: $1000. This will cover all lodging, all ground transportation, at least 2 meals per day, and translation. Additional expenses during the trip will be minimal. **Airfare not included. Possible group rate available for those traveling from NYC.**

Anyone interested should email cbalbertolovera@gmail.com as soon as possible, as space for this trip is very limited. Please allow a day or two for responses.

Sponsored by the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of NY.

Additional fligh ticket of $50 will be required for an internal flight from La Paz to Santa Cruz.

Focus areas include: social programs of the government; food security and food sovereignty initiatives; programs for the industrialization of coca; indigenous culture; the struggle against water privatization

Days 1 and 2: Santa Cruz – arrival; orientation/welcome; visits to social programs and discussions with community leaders and authorities who run them.

Days 3, 4, and 5: Chapare/ Cochabamba – visits to food security pilot projects, industrialization of coca leaves; visits to pilot projects for the visits with community leaders who led the successful struggle against privatization of their water sources

Visiting Venezuela with the Bolivarian Circle of New York “Alberto Lovera” delegation was a great experience. I was able to enter into dialog with the process underway at cooperatives and communal councils and see for myself the enthusiasm of the Chavista base for participatory democracy, food security and protecting the social gains of the revolution while moving forward.

Frederick B. Mills

Professor of Philosophy

Bowie State University

The delegation gave me a fabulous window into one of the most exciting social experiments of our time, the Bolivarian revolution and the public policies committed to social Justice that it informs. It also wetted my appetite for more. I will soon be incorporating some of what I learned into my seminars, and I hope to be able to bring a contingent of students in the near future.

Claudia Chaufan

Associate Professor University of California San Francisco

“The Food Sovereignty delegation to Venezuela was interesting, informative and a lot of fun. We saw collective farms, factories, feeding centers and spent time with groups of people struggling for land reform and human dignity. We had lots of opportunities to see how people work together and how agriculture is changing in Venezuela. I loved the people we traveled with and created strong bonds with many of them. It’s the kind of trip that makes you want to return in a few years to see how much progress is being made. It further inspired me to work in the food democracy movement in the US and figure out ways to stay in solidarity with our Venezuelan sisters and brothers.”

“Traveling with William and Christina gave me an insider perspective that I couldn’t have gotten otherwise. I highly recommend taking a trip on one of these delegations whether you are highly interested in food politics and socialism, or are new to the subject.”

“I traveled to both Venezuela and Bolivia with William Camacaro and Christina Schiavoni as the leaders of the trip. I can’t say enough about the quality of these trips and their leadership. I was astounded at the range of activities each trip provided: food centers for the elderly, African communities, women’s collectives, revolutionary centers, fishing industry in Venezuela, agricultural initiatives such as the production of quinoa in Bolivia, meetings with government officials, wonderful community cultural events (sometimes in our honor!), and more. Additionally, both William and Christina were very attentive to the people on the trips, addressed personal crises that arose, and helped in any way possible. There was never a sense that you were simply on your own in a foreign country, and had to fend for yourself. They were always available for questions, suggestions, and concrete help. IN SO DOING THE TRIP LEADERS CREATED A FAMILY-LIKE FEELING AMONG THE GROUP MEMBERS. I have been traveling on political/educational trips for decades, and can only say; the Bolivarian Circle’s trips are the bomb!”

“The food sovereignty tours to Venezuela are an incredible eye opener. You can read about aspects of the country’s shift to a fairer food system but to see it first hand – and meet the people that are making the change happen – is totally inspiring.”

This December, witness one of the most important elections in the history of Venezuela, and of the hemisphere. On December 6, the people of Venezuela will exercise their right to vote in elections for deputies to the country’s National Assembly. Voters will decide whether to carry forward the Bolivarian Revolution by retaining a Chavista majority in the National Assembly or return the political intitative to the traditional elites represented by most of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD).

The stakes are high. Venezuela has been in the forefront of regional integration and independence from U.S. hegemony and push back against the neoliberal agenda over the past sixteen years and it has supported the building of a multipolar world. It has also been a leading force, since Chavez was elected president in December 1998, against the further propogation of those free trade agreements that would compromise the public nature of human services and diminish the sovereignty of participating nations in favor of transnational corporate interests.

Despite the current fall in petroleum prices, Venezuela has resisted austerity, declined to roll back progressive labor laws and the land reform, and increased social spending targeted to the most vulnerable sectors. For all of these reasons, this will be one of the most closely watched elections in the world. Come witness it from the inside and lend your solidarity to the people of Venezuela as they shape their own future, in the face of episodic attempts at extra constitutional regime change, escalating aggression from the US, which has proclaimed Venezuela as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” by executive order, as well as an “economic war” against the people waged by the country’s elite.

Participants in this delegation will learn about Venezuela’s electoral process and witness participatory democracy in action through meetings with community councils and other grassroots groups in Caracas and the neighboring states of Aragua and Miranda. The group will get a first-hand glimpse of the various areas of social transformation taking place in Venezuela, despite the economic challenges, including in education, healthcare, food sovereignty, and alternative media. The delegation will also include trips to touristic sites of interest.

Come see the real “threat” posed by Venezuela – as living proof that another world indeed is possible. As the Venezuelan people assert, “Venezuela is not a threat – we are hope!”

Tentative Itinerary: Start and end in Caracas; visits to the states of Miranda and Aragua.

Cost for Activities: $900. This will cover all lodging, all ground transportation, 2 meals per day, qualified trip leaders, and Spanish-English interpretation. Additional expenses during the trip will be minimal. Airfare not included. The passages roundtrip plane to Venezuela ( From US ) are between $ 479- $ 560

To Learn more and hold a spot, email cbalbertolovera@gmail.com. Please be in touch as soon as possible, as space for this delegation is very limited. Please allow several days for responses.

Sponsored by the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of NY.
For more information see:

Visiting Venezuela with the Bolivarian Circle of New York “Alberto Lovera” delegation was a great experience. I was able to enter into dialog with the process underway at cooperatives and communal councils and see for myself the enthusiasm of the Chavista base for participatory democracy, food security and protecting the social gains of the revolution while moving forward.

Frederick B. Mills

Professor of Philosophy

Bowie State University

The delegation gave me a fabulous window into one of the most exciting social experiments of our time, the Bolivarian revolution and the public policies committed to social Justice that it informs. It also wetted my appetite for more. I will soon be incorporating some of what I learned into my seminars, and I hope to be able to bring a contingent of students in the near future.

Claudia Chaufan

Associate Professor University of California San Francisco

“The Food Sovereignty delegation to Venezuela was interesting, informative and a lot of fun. We saw collective farms, factories, feeding centers and spent time with groups of people struggling for land reform and human dignity. We had lots of opportunities to see how people work together and how agriculture is changing in Venezuela. I loved the people we traveled with and created strong bonds with many of them. It’s the kind of trip that makes you want to return in a few years to see how much progress is being made. It further inspired me to work in the food democracy movement in the US and figure out ways to stay in solidarity with our Venezuelan sisters and brothers.”

“Traveling with William and Christina gave me an insider perspective that I couldn’t have gotten otherwise. I highly recommend taking a trip on one of these delegations whether you are highly interested in food politics and socialism, or are new to the subject.”

“I traveled to both Venezuela and Bolivia with William Camacaro and Christina Schiavoni as the leaders of the trip. I can’t say enough about the quality of these trips and their leadership. I was astounded at the range of activities each trip provided: food centers for the elderly, African communities, women’s collectives, revolutionary centers, fishing industry in Venezuela, agricultural initiatives such as the production of quinoa in Bolivia, meetings with government officials, wonderful community cultural events (sometimes in our honor!), and more. Additionally, both William and Christina were very attentive to the people on the trips, addressed personal crises that arose, and helped in any way possible. There was never a sense that you were simply on your own in a foreign country, and had to fend for yourself. They were always available for questions, suggestions, and concrete help. IN SO DOING THE TRIP LEADERS CREATED A FAMILY-LIKE FEELING AMONG THE GROUP MEMBERS. I have been traveling on political/educational trips for decades, and can only say; the Bolivarian Circle’s trips are the bomb!”

“The food sovereignty tours to Venezuela are an incredible eye opener. You can read about aspects of the country’s shift to a fairer food system but to see it first hand – and meet the people that are making the change happen – is totally inspiring.”

March 2015 Delegation to Venezuela: Come with us to learn about human development in Venezuela: education, community based organizations, and the efforts at achieving food sovereignty.

March 22-29

While the mainstream media speculates about the future of the Bolivarian Revolution since the passing of Hugo Chavez, for the Venezuelan popular sectors, there is no turning back to a state of marginalization and exclusion. Come learn about the process currently transpiring in Venezuela as the people, faithful to the legacy of Chavez, deepen and further radicalize their struggle in defense of the Bolivarian Revolution. Come learn, connect, and show your solidarity at this critical moment for the Venezuelan process.

Through direct exchanges with community organizations, social movements, and political leaders, we will explore various areas of social transformation, including food sovereignty, education, healthcare, independent community based media, and direct citizen participation in the political process. There will also be trips to beaches, parks, and other sites of interest.

Cost for Activities: $800. This will cover all lodging, all ground transportation, 2 meals per day, qualified trip leaders, and Spanish-English interpretation. Alcoholic beverages are not included in this activity fee. Additional expenses during the trip will be reasonable. Airfare not included.

Day 1-2 and 3: Orientation meeting, Visits to urban agriculture sites and other community initiatives in different communities in Caracas, including 23 de Enero, El Valle, and Petare. Barrio Adentro, Compresive Community Medicine. International School of Medicine, Bolivarian University.

Days 4 and 5: Visit to the Afro-Venezuelan community of Barlovento, known for producing some of the world’s best cocoa; learn about artisanal cacao production as well as artisanal fishing and Venezuela’s progressive fishing laws; enjoy beautiful beaches.

Days 6: Caracas: free day for sight seeing, getting souvenirs,

Day 7: departure.

In addition, we will visit the Bolivarian missions, communal councils, socially productive agricultural programs, housing programs, the Latin American Medical School, El Sistema music program, workers’ assemblies, community radio stations, rural workers organizations, The Bolivarian University, feeding houses program, we will have meeting with several members of the National Assembly.

To Learn more and hold a spot for the trip, email cbalbertolovera@gmail.com. Please be in touch as soon as possible, as space is very limited. Please allow several days for responses.

Visiting Venezuela with the Bolivarian Circle of New York “Alberto Lovera” delegation was a great experience. I was able to enter into dialog with the process underway at cooperatives and communal councils and see for myself the enthusiasm of the Chavista base for participatory democracy, food security and protecting the social gains of the revolution while moving forward.

Frederick B. Mills

Professor of Philosophy

Bowie State University

The delegation gave me a fabulous window into one of the most exciting social experiments of our time, the Bolivarian revolution and the public policies committed to social Justice that it informs. It also wetted my appetite for more. I will soon be incorporating some of what I learned into my seminars, and I hope to be able to bring a contingent of students in the near future.

Claudia Chaufan

Associate Professor University of California San Francisco

“The Food Sovereignty delegation to Venezuela was interesting, informative and a lot of fun. We saw collective farms, factories, feeding centers and spent time with groups of people struggling for land reform and human dignity. We had lots of opportunities to see how people work together and how agriculture is changing in Venezuela. I loved the people we traveled with and created strong bonds with many of them. It’s the kind of trip that makes you want to return in a few years to see how much progress is being made. It further inspired me to work in the food democracy movement in the US and figure out ways to stay in solidarity with our Venezuelan sisters and brothers.”

“Traveling with William and Christina gave me an insider perspective that I couldn’t have gotten otherwise. I highly recommend taking a trip on one of these delegations whether you are highly interested in food politics and socialism, or are new to the subject.”

“I traveled to both Venezuela and Bolivia with William Camacaro and Christina Schiavoni as the leaders of the trip. I can’t say enough about the quality of these trips and their leadership. I was astounded at the range of activities each trip provided: food centers for the elderly, African communities, women’s collectives, revolutionary centers, fishing industry in Venezuela, agricultural initiatives such as the production of quinoa in Bolivia, meetings with government officials, wonderful community cultural events (sometimes in our honor!), and more. Additionally, both William and Christina were very attentive to the people on the trips, addressed personal crises that arose, and helped in any way possible. There was never a sense that you were simply on your own in a foreign country, and had to fend for yourself. They were always available for questions, suggestions, and concrete help. IN SO DOING THE TRIP LEADERS CREATED A FAMILY-LIKE FEELING AMONG THE GROUP MEMBERS. I have been traveling on political/educational trips for decades, and can only say; the Bolivarian Circle’s trips are the bomb!”

“The food sovereignty tours to Venezuela are an incredible eye opener. You can read about aspects of the country’s shift to a fairer food system but to see it first hand – and meet the people that are making the change happen – is totally inspiring.”